Theme Day. What I'd miss most if I left Ramsey?

                                  All of it


Today on the City Daily Photo the question is what we'd all miss most from the place we blog from. I've thought about this and I can't say one thing. I'd miss the beach. Getting my feet wet to capture a sunrise, and the sunrise itself. Sunrises over the sea are nothing short of breathe taking. I'd miss the dark skies, when the street lighting goes off at 1am and the night sky is devoid of orange urban light, replaced with natural star filled sky light. I'd miss Sundays still feel like an old fashioned Sunday, with few shops open, but enough for those emergency items. I'd miss how safe it is to live in a small town, where everyone knows each other and crime is low. I'd miss the two weeks when the island becomes the centre of the biking world, known as the Isle of Man TT races. I'd miss photographing sporting events, muddy, wet cycling, crazy fast motorbike races, and bitterly cold, torrential rain, gale force wind rugby games. I'd miss meeting tourists and making new friends each year who come over for random events mentioned above. I'd miss karaoke where songs get murdered or perfectly executed but always fun and I'd miss the pubs that host karaoke, bands, quiz nights. I'd miss the views from those pubs, looking out onto the harbour or the mountain. I'd miss the sunsets over the Poyll Dooey nature reserve and river walk, the park, the swing bridge swinging and standing on a beach looking across to mainland UK, thinking, best decision, to move here. Above all, I'd miss the people who have become friends. The people who come to events, who let me photograph them, who sing karaoke, who party, who are always there for you. They are in the photo, pinpricks from a distance, taken at Ramsey Rocks, the one night of the year the town turns out to well rock with bands and beer.

So what I'd miss, is well, Ramsey. 8 years of blogging this crazy small town, on a small island, I discover I'd miss it all.

City Daily Photo Theme Day click around to view others what they'd miss.

Ramsey, Isle of Man, Dusk Sunset

                               Pretty in pink


You can tell it's getting warmer, the colors are getting brighter and the nights days are getting longer. It's 9pm, as I type, and the sky is still purple and pink. If you look closely you see people fishing off the end of the jetty, by the lighthouse. Freshly caught supper.

I could travel the world looking for a sunset, or just walk out the house and find one on my doorstep.

Other skywatch scenes around the world can be found here

The White Bridge

Single File only

Another Ramsey landmark,  and regular haunt, the aptly (if not imaginatively) named White Bridge, situated in The Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve, crossing over the Sulby river.  It's basically a single file pedestrian only bridge, although bikes and motorbikes can be walked and not ridden across. It really is quite a narrow and sturdy, but perfectly formed walkway that allows you to reach the other side of the river without getting your feet wet. 


When looking for information about this bridge,  I've  just found the vaguest reference, or uncorroborated info. How long it's been here who knows, apart from the ducks possibly who appear to live below it, coming out for a waddle and food off locals. A mystery perhaps an older local can solve.

Queen's Pier

                         What lies beneath

Queen's Pier, Ramsey, Isle of Man, sadly closed to he public now to walk along and in need of repair, but still one of the most iconic sites of the town. Dating back to 1886 and originally costing £45, 000 to build and once one of the main communication points between the island and Scotland. Now it's a become a boon subject for photographers, especially at daybreak as the sun rises. Today's theme at City Daily Photo is "triangles" and more around he world can be seen here. To view the larger high res image of this photo click here

Rugby

                        Ramsey vs Marple

Saturday afternoons from late Autumn to late Spring are spent photographing Ramsey Rugby and whichever team they are playing that week. This week, visiting Marple from across, or should I say England. Ask any local and the island is considered the mainland, and England, Scotland and Wales, "across." Sadly, I have to mention the result which was a loss for Ramsey, playing in red and blue above, though the photograph shows the one and only try scored by the lads. I'd also like to add, this photo does not show the gale force wind that almost knocked me off my feet several times!

So, where was I .....

Isn't he pretty in pink

..... taking a break from being the Queen B of the Isle of Man... you have no idea how unruly some of my subjects are.. and trying to be a normal minnion. BORING! So, instead of next month, when my original return to blogging with a bang was planned, I have woken from my coma( the snoozy real world) and reactivated the blog. This will displease many people who thought I had run off to the hills( no just lost drunk with a bag of chips in the woods, yes really) and please an awful lot apparently who seem to be addicted to what I have to bang on about and what goes on in Ramsey. Why? I mean we are talking people in the hub bub of New York think I live in the real Hell's Kitchen. No, it's just the way I convey it to the masses with a little picture which I constantly have to explain. Er, like why has that man got pink fishnet tights as gloves for starters. Have you never read my blog. Hello, I live on an island, named in honour of a man, like their are no woman here and our flag, has 3 legs as it's symbol.... pink gloved men relatively normal pass time.

Oh, if I must explain! I'm not making this up, you are looking at a member of a band called, Sloth Loves Chunk. The pink outfit is donned for the rendition of Electric Six's Gaybar.... complete with dance routine to a packed pub most places on the island, but as this is all about Ramsey, that would be er, the Britannia pub then. In fact I know it was as I spent the night snapping away, on free Jack Daniels, and enjoying the set... especially Wolfmother "Woman" and Foo Fighters "Monkey Wrench". That's just like a big hint there to keep those in the set lads and nothing whatsover to do with the blog. Now if you're on Facebook and on the island you can follow the band and turn up and support them. If you live off island you are probably still pondering why he has pink fishnet gloves on and could I not have used my first post back to show you a pretty sunset or a little snippet of history re Ramsey or the a local news event. What do you think this is a travelogue! I live here and you will see Ramsey as I do.

Sure you're happy with the once and future Queens return?

THE BIG BLUE

Le Grand Bleu, Qui?

Skywatch

Bonsoir a tous mes amis Skywatching


No I haven't moved Ramsey to France. It's not the French Riviera. That is still the big beautiful Queens Promenade Beach, the view looking across to England, not France. It did put me in mind of the film(click),"Le Grand Bleu" and what we do have here in the way of sport other than the Isle of Man TT, scuba diving. Yes you read that right scuba diving.



Now I've never been myself, but others have and by all accounts it's a terrific experience. We do get basking sharks and dolphins( mythical mermaids rarely) around the Isle but not exactly getting a suntan on the beach. However if you set sail get the binoculars out or go scuba diving you will get a close up view. Seals are a little braver. You do happen upon them along some of the harbour entrances looking for fish. Peel particularly where they quite often come to have a nosey at you. They do tend to pose too for the camera (click) "Seal in Peel" to see what I mean. One day I hope to show you the (click) Ben Varrey, the ship but the naughty Mermaid of the island. Well you know what mermaids are like. Never around when you have the camera.



Short and sweet my sweeties tonight.

Skywatch watchers can be found here. Many thanks to Dot for the inspirational idea, Tom looking for scarecrows, for the first care taking and the My world gang for looking after skywatch now.

MONA STREET, RAMSEY

Nothing to moan about in this street

I was hoping to play the 6 game today but as usual time has run away, so I'll do that Saturday and 6 of you  bloggers beware. Instead I give you Mona Street. Now of course we have the Mona Lisa, but this Mona would be the Gaelic variety. Now I know that Mona in Gaelic means noble but I'm not sure if this is where our Mona in Ramsey got here little name from. Sweet little street isn't it? Very brightly coloured sunny yellow houses, lots of cars, cables, those chimney pots again, plant pots so much for a tiny street(or terrace as it used to be.) This was another of those guerrilla run and shoot images not overly composed. Quite enjoying this style of photography. Nicely rough around the edges, busy. The bonus was the crane from yesterday peeping over the top shows you where this is just behind the docks.

Mona street was built it seems between the 1840's to 1860's to coincide with the brand spanking new road built a little earlier. They were known as status houses, homes of note. Ones reason was piped water, which made it's way into Ramsey in 1857. Apparently it was a walk to the well before then. One other interesting fact for me. There used to be a photographic studio there many moons ago, and the street is the main focal point for today's daily photo post.  What goes around comes around. Oh yes the one other interesting fact. I know someone who has just left this street, and that's why I had the idea to capture it. How many times have I passed here and ignored it. 

Post and run again.  Had sometime out with mindjolt games. Now to bed. Work can wait. I'll do some proper photography again next week, just wanted to experiment a little this week. Unless you want more of these quick snaps and less of the pretty perfect ones?

Having email probs. Trying to sort that out but they are boucing back.

Babooshka ramsey daily photo http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com

 

THE SWAN, RAMSEY - MY WORLD

Fancy at pint or a pub lunch?

My World

You have heard me mention the Swan Pub before, well here it is. Lots of you have asked to see building on the blog, especially the pubs, and particularly this one as I mention it a lot. Yes this is the other Swan of my world the one I drink in, not the one that flies around the harbour. 

This is where you will often find me on a Friday, sometimes a Wednesday and why the blog always gets updated late. You may recognize this from those TT photographs. I'm standing in exactly the same spot I take those motorbike ones from. Bit quieter as you can see. This is Saturday afternoon too, and you can see how how little traffic there is. In fact I had to wait to capture a car. Just wanted to show you some life in the town other than me and the birds. It's split into two rooms. One the Pool room and yes you can watch football(soccer to some of you) on cable in there. The other side is the lounge. Comfy sofas or you usual tables. You can even get a decent meal full meal or light lunch to go with your classic British pint of beer, larger, spirits or coffee. Lovely strong cup of black coffee.  The British have a thing about quizzes and the Swan is no exception. In fact I used to play for the Swan Pub team in the Ramsey Quiz League. Too busy to now. Geographically this is the pub nearest my house(just out of town in the suburban bit) and that other great British institution the Fish and Chip shop. Handy when cooking is not on the agenda, and it never is on Fridays. 

So not only my world today but all this week, will be a little more down to earth than my normal photos, not so much the pretties. Going for realistic snapshots on the run, dodging traffic and people, and trying to sneak shots of the very heart of the town. So this is the pub you here about I used to be a quiz team member of and stop by for the odd pint or spirit. It's actually more cream than yellow but the dropping sun cast a sunny yellow under poor light conditions. I like this guerrilla style photography of hide shoot and run. Some interesting results. More like city daily photo should be too, just a no frills photo.

Klaus, Imac,  Fishing Guy, Ivar, Tom, Louise, Wren, Sandy and others are to thank for the neme. Click here for more my world's.

Does this look like you thought a pub here would look like?

Babooshka, Ramsey daily photo, http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

ABC- ARCHED ARCHIVES

Today we look through the Arch window

ABC - Wednesday

Brought to you by the letter A

The beach trip is just not going as planned. Rain, rain and more rain. We even have a very light dusting of snow atop the mountain. Not enough for a fabulous image for the blog though. So back to the beach and this week's letter which is A. I give you Arched Archives. No really difficult to work out why is it. Just in case it it. Those are "arches" and this is an "archive" image

I have  shown you this place before as a black and white and as a colour version showing more of the pathway and less of the beach. Told you before this is a hidden gem. You have too walk a way along the beach to get here(the left arch leads to Ramsey) but it's really worth it. You can wade or jump the stream and head towards Maughold(right arch)well you could if it was safe. Remember tides come in as well as go out. Behind me leads the path up to one of the little glens we have here leading out of Ramsey and on the road to Douglas. There is a pretty picnic area up there and as I have said before a lovely place for the photographer. Very low light though so not forgiving for a snapshot. Rabbits have been known to do whatever rabbits do here, but reports of the phantom escaped wallaby of Ramsey are false! Or are they?

So that's it round 4, week 1. To join see the lady with letters Mrs Nesbitt and others too. The facebook experiment continues see you there. Click the logo. Just for fun.

Mrsnesbitt's place: ABC Wednesday..Round 4! Did you spot one or two TV programme refs. today? 

This blog belongs to Babooshka, Ramsey Daily Photo,http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/if you are are reading the blog on another url it is an illegal copy

Q,How Manx are you?

RAMSEY BEACH BLUES, 300TH POST, MY WORLD

Ramsey Beach Blues,

 My world,

 300th post

Yes today is my 300th post. I'd like to say the sun came out and the sky was pure blue for me but no it was dull and cloudy. Not really beach walking  with the camera weather. So an archive when the sun was out and the sky was blue. As you can see this stretch of beach is very sandy normally damp. This is not a sunbathers beach because the sand is always damp  and you would be washed away on your lilo or beach towel quite often. It is a great walkers beach though. Always dogs running about, flocks of oystercatchers, and the occasional brave child who doesn't mind the wind and rain with a bucket and spade.  What  you can see is the jetty with what looks like two lighthouses on it. Another optical illusion. One jetty is behind the other, a lighthouse on each one. Often you will see fishermen here. Not sure if it's for the fish or relax but the end of the jetties are often busy. Behind me out of shot would be the Queen's Pier which has featured in many posts. The slither of land you can see on the left over the jetty is actually some way off in the distance and part of the bay on the other side of the harbour. Yes Ramsey is greedy we have two beaches.  

Thanks to the My World team where other folks world's can be seen.

All that I have to say is a big thank you to all who have ever stopped by commented, advise, work, sales, emailed etc. Changes are afoot with the blog where I am hoping to show you larger images. Got one or two other ideas as well but for now will keep quiet about those. You understand I have had so much stolen either work or ideas that until they are live I will keep a zipped mouth. Facebook the experiment is still going strong. Join me us just for fun, but able to add a few island extras there. My new laptop will be here soon and then it will be the new website.

THANK YOU

EVERYONE 

This blog belongs to 

Ramsey Daily Photo

http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

If you are reading this on another site that has a different url it is an illegal copy and

I will take action

MONONCHROME ODDHSOTS - SPOT THE BIRDIE?

Leave no stone unturned to spot the birdie

Ramsey Daily Photo - http://dailyphotoilseofman.blogspot.com/

Can you spot the Birdie?

Monochrome Oddshots on the beach. It's still torrential rain here, so again not today's image.

Part of the series of images from the beach, a turnstone. Honestly he is in there somewhere. I know it's a small image but he's not hard to find. Strangely even in the colour version he is quite camouflaged as he seemed to blend in with  the colours of the pebbles along the beach. 

Usually find groups of these birds in Ramsey, along with oystercatchers, cormorants, gulls of course, redshanks to name a few. Usually too see another mad bird(this is a joke, calm down you rampant fems.) called Babooshka walking quickly towards them or hiding behind rocks, or crawling along the ground to catch a snap of them. Don't even get me started on chasing swallows. They fly right up to you strutting their stuff goading you to take a snap of them. I've got a few swallow shots but not many beach ones. Wagtails too is another bird found here and occasionally a wheatear. Ok there are a lot of birds on the beach. You just try snapping one!

Well it's time to batten down the hatches. Ramsey is suppose to be in for a really rough ride the next few days with gales and tremendous rainfall. Maybe the house will end up on the beach.

Facebook has been down, I'll be on when I can as the server here is also slow today.

Creative Monochrome Maniacs see Aileni at Loose ends

Oddest of Oddshots see Katney

Did you spot the birdie?

This blog belongs to 

Ramsey Daily Photo

http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

If you are reading this on another site that has a different url it is an illegal copy and

I will take action.

Tomorrow is the big 300.

RAMSEY ON THE ROCKS

On a clear day(not today then)

http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

What did I say I was going to treat you to this week? A series of images on and around the beach. 

What has the weather been like today horrendous. 

Rain all day long. So no this image was no taken today but earlier in the week. Typical isn't it. Remind me not to suggest

a beach photography shoot in January ever again. Of course the post is also late for me. You guessed it. Friday is pub night.

Babooshka had an appointment to keep with Mr Jack Daniels and his close personal friend coke cola.

If You had seen the crashing waves images on Ramsey Daily Photo then you will possibly recognise this

place. It's standing on the jetty again looking down onto the rocks. No two days are ever the same

in the week it was so clear with the lovely

lucid green tone. When it's like this and still you really can

see all the way to the seabed quite a way out. not often like this though as I'm hoping to show you

that is if it ever stops raining! If you are a bird spotter this is a good place to stand. Often find groups

of shorebirds of many varieties resting on the rocks. Even the elusive cormorant family of birds

can be seen here. Seldom but it has happened.

Still having blog issues, but some have been resolved. Remember now comments are open on this post

for a few days then they will be closed to new comments to stop the the spam bots and trolls.

The facebook experiment continues. I'm finding it a really useful back up to the sight and it's a great place

to add some videos for you to see.

Hopefully we can have some better days and I can get onto the beach ad photograph whatever I find.

Surely I won't find anything as strange as the chair in the nature reserve on the beach, but this is

a mad town so you never know. What's the weirdest thing you've found on a beach?

On The Rocks

Ramsey 

Isle Of Man

This blog belongs to 

Ramsey Daily Photo

http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

If you are reading this on another site that has a different url it is an illegal copy and

I will take action.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - SKYWTACH

STARBURST

Starting from yesterday I am starting a series of images taken on the beach. Not necessarily of the beach but what you can see all around. This is the view from Queens Promenade Beach. Those are the tallest buildings in Ramsey , St Paul's flats. From the beach looking up over the high promenade wall I could just see the skyline and get that great angle to catch the sunflare ans tip the lens to create the star effect. Don't do this at home. Naughty photographer should no better. Can damage your eye and lens. Just can't resist these shots.

A few changes to the blog.

 

 

Backlinks - Sorry but someone linking to some really bad sites. Also getting persistant bloggers linking to all post regardless of whether it relates to their blog. This is not how backlinks work.  So they are off for now.

Comments - Comments  box will only be open for a couple of days after the date of the new post. After two days I will keep existing comments and disable the comments box. Had lots of spammers dropping by on older posts and placing those long spam comments that link to spam blogs or again some bad sites. 

I did say last week this would happen and apologisies but the few spoilt it for the many. So if you want to comment do so soon (including yesterday's post) as the box will be disabled soon on this post. Another thing is I have had my blog reproduced again elsewhere so I need to look into that too. 

On a lighter note Babooshka and Ramsey Daily Photo is now on facebook. It strated as a joke after a flippant comment but now now it's getting it's own fanbase. It's actually really useful as I can put vids and clips of the island on there and other stuff not right for this blog. Everyone is welcome to join and drop their own link on the wall to their blog. I am the Puppet master. 

Join me this week on the beach here. If it rains too much though forget it. It is Ramsey after all.

So comment quick, and join us on Facebook. Todays Vid on Facebook is Back Door Slam

Thanks to the skywatch team once again and everyone taking part. Go see the them.

St Paul's Flats

Ramsey 

Isle Of Man

This blog belongs to 

Ramsey Daily Photo

http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/

If you are reading this on another site that has a different url it is an illegal copy and I will take action.

RAMSEY WHAT A WASTE OF SPACE!

Jacob's ladder maybe?

If you are here for skywatch it is the post below. I always like to have a reality check with the images. Pretty skies need to be balanced withe cold light of day photos. One from the socio economic pile- in other words the crappy side of life. 

Stairway to heaven, hell no

This is about as downtown as it gets. It's the harbour, West Quay a big chunk of nothing. I have no idea what used to be there and no idea if there are any plans for this space now. It is just there. The last thing we need here is more designer flats/ apartments that won't sell due to the economic downturn. We already have a pile of those empty quayside. What we could do with in this space is affordable accommodation mini market/cafe/fishmongers/grocers... anything but an empty space.  As for the ladder it was there for days just propped up against the wall.  I'm clueless about that too but it sort of suits the image, senseless, aimless, going nowhere.  Roll up with those metaphors and analogises.

Road to nowhere?

What is the oddest of all about this is the cleanliness of the place. Usually a space like this has graffiti scrawled over it, beers cans and chip wrappers discarded. Look at it. Almost as  if someone has swept it and washed the walls down.  To be honest I find that a little freaky.  In keeping with the sort of spooky scene I overexposed the sky just to have cast that white blast over the scene to give it an unsophisticated look. It reminds me of '60s British cinema( when we made proper films) when the working class found a voice and we recognised not everyone lives in London wears a bowler hat or is a chimney sweep. Well it would do if it wasn't so freaky clean, er like a film set.

Wish you were here?

Any suggestions what you think this Ramsey waste of space should be maybe like a drop in centre for addicted to toadstools(?) Manx Fairies then do have your say and I'll be sure to put it to tender. 

Read between the lines

Is there anybody out there? Just doing it My way.  Whatever that is.

VERSATILE SWAN - RAMSEY CRITTERS

Hide, Babooshka is here with her camera again!

Critters Sunday

I know the swan isn't really hiding from me. Well I presume it's not. We have camera show people but not birds, no the swan is of course preening itself. Not for my benefit for the image but I'm sure it did he/she some good. Spent quite a while doing this. On second thoughts maybe it was avoiding me. Of course this was taken alongside Ramsey Harbour again, actually on the Swing Bridge. 

Following on from yesterday another image using light and objects to bounce colour. The blue highlighted in the rippled circles was reflected off  a boat and stands out as the swan is so white. The same image with the swan in the centre of the shot isn't as dramatic, hiding the ripples and the blue isn't as emphasised, which is why I went with this one again a manual. Once you get the hag of manual images they are much sharper than auto. Forgive the next paragraph but going off at a complete tangent to internet thieves who are spoiling blogging..

If this blog page text full, part or images appears on any other site apart from "RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO" then it is being viewed illegally and has been reprinted, copied or fed to a site illegally. The contents of this blog are to be viewed on RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO, http://dailyphotoisleofman.blogspot.com/ and I will take action if I find this page on any site other  than RAMSEY DAILY PHOTO 

Sorry for the above but some of us have had problems and I will not put up up with it.

For more Critters see Misty Dawn and please leave a comment.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN - SKYWATCH

Poyll Dooey - Sunset Surprise(not really)

Good news a borrowed laptop for a few weeks. Bad news it's behaving very strangely.

A quick sunset over the nature reserve from about a month ago. Not much else to say tonight.

Going to grab a coffee and come back and see if I can get to grips with this laptop. Still converting and uploading images one as and when which is painstaking and boring.

Why is the line break double spaced or cramped I don't know, but's its very annoying. Any ideas anyone.

The concept was DOT'S, the next host WIGGERS WORLD the guardians of skywatch are Klaus Sandy Ivar Wren Fishing Guy Louise

V- IS FOR VACANT

Pretty Vacant

V - Is for vacant

Now there's no point in asking you'll get no reply, (just like Isle of Man Newspapers!), honestly no one's out to lunch as no one is at home. This is just another empty property I have come across on my travels around Ramsey, Lezayre Road in fact. If anyone was looking for prime spot in Ramsey to rent a flat(apartment for my American friends) then I would suggest here. A minute from the Swan pub, Shoprite Supermarket, The library in fact you could watch the Isle Of Man TT Races from the window. Any takers?


It really is rotten luck that a lovely building such a this should be lain to waste. On the other it makes a great photo opportunity. With the credit crunch now it's just a vicious circle of pretty vacant properties like this beauty awaiting a tenant or buyer while falling into ruin, then becoming to expensive to restore etc. I've no illusions about the romance of buildings such as these. Yes perfect for photographers, but I'd much rather it was restored and converted into affordable housing even if that means making it into a bland faceless facade. Unfortunately accommodation is paramount not my photographs.

This image is a month old. Still no laptop and my borrowing time is now down to a minimum. Some of you may have noticed I have had a little fun with this post.


To view the road this property is on, click below


Lezayre Road
Foootbridge

Mrse nesbitt is the lady of letters.

THE WHITE BRIDGE- MY WORLD

Over The White Bridge onto the Battle of Skyhill

Another Ramsey Landmark, and one of Babooshka's regular haunts is the aptly, if not imaginatively named White Bridge. The bridge is situated in The Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve and crosses over the Sulby river. The hill you can see on the left in the distance is Skyhill as in the battle which I have covered before in the viking posts and a My World post. It's basically a single file pedestrian only bridge, although bikes and motorbikes can be walked but not ridden across. It really is quite a narrow, sturdy but perfectly formed walkway. It's also another of many favourite places to photograph in Ramsey.

When looking for information about this bridge, again, I either came back to my own links or just found the vaguest reference, or uncorroborated info, which I need to confirm. Even images seemed limited. The Poyll Dooey Reserve is just the same. This is a specific area that has been set aside as a nature reserve/wetlands site for wildlife and yet it's almost as if it's some dirty little secret the island is ashamed of. To say I am exasperated by this is an understatement. I have a few ideas where to find text to post with my photos I regularly take of this place, so I will elaborate more soon. Nothing more fustrating than coming back to your own blog.



White bridge

If you take the Bridge away and look up to Skyhill you will be looing upon the same view he Viking would have seen when they arrived marching towards Skyhill an onto battle. No skyscrappers to osbcure the beautiful veiw here.


MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.

RADIOACTIVE RAMSEY?

Luminous pebbles

Look what on found on the beach along the Mooragh, Ramsey.... Radioactive pebbles. Scary huh!
Ok you got me. I think we can all safely assume I manipulated the image somewhat, well a quite lot. To me this is what digital software is for. Not to tidy up an image, but to add a novel element
like say a Martian landscape with orange an lilac luminescent pebbles. As you can see my photos are still be held hostage by my laptop and I can't upload new ones until next week. So in the meantime an old stock image that I have had some fun with. I like it I will have to do more over the top stuff like this, just for fun. Amazing the images you forget about. Amazing too to think someone has this image on a mug. Going off at a tangent below.



As you know Gary was relinquished from his Political Cartoonist Job at the BBC this week. Well it seems a lot of people were quite upset about this and contacted the BBC.
We knew Gary had a following but the feedback he has had has been incredible. The upshot of all this is the BBC has confirmed with Gary that they don't want to lose him altogether, but due to the credit crunch cuts had to be made. What to do. The Barker Gallery for now has finished, the last cartoon went on yesterday. The old Galleries will stay on the website, that's 4 of them, for anyone to see at anytime. From time to time Gary will be called upon to do the odd piece of artwork ad hoc and one day hopefully when the recession has passed... well that's the future. The website he built for his illustrations will now be the first point of hire.



One request if I may? The BBC, well Gavin Allen, Editor - The Politics Show have actually written a lovely piece about the Barker Gallery and with a feedback form for comment. If you click HERE you can have a read for yourselves. Gary can't read it. Too modest about his talent. Well I'm not, about his. I'm an excellent photographer, but the best Political Cartoonist, and I know from your emails how many of you agree. Thank you.